About

I’ve been a solopreneur since 1999… Realizing the potential of the Internet back then and the opportunity it presented solopreneurs, I started my first online business and haven’t looked back!

This business started me on a path of self-study and Internet entrepreneurship that has led to numerous online properties and extensive experience in Online Marketing.

How Did I Get Started In Solopreneurship?

After I went through the usual growing pains of a new business, I started to have some success… Soon folks started noticing and asking for advice, so I gave it to them… But people are busy (especially business owners) and so before I knew it business owners started asking if they could just hire me to do it for them… Not being one to pass up a great opportunity, I decided to hang out a shingle and add consulting to my business.

Nowadays, I’m considered an SEO expert and work with clients handling all their SEO and Social Media needs… (And before you say anything, I’m the “plumber” who’s faucets leak, I’ve been so busy with clients that I often neglect my own sites, so I know I need to start treating myself as a client)… Anyways, I provide a lot of done-for-you services for larger travel companies in the travel industry (search rankings are huge for them, because if you’re thinking of going on a trip what’s the first thing you do… Search Google).

I’ve now become known amongst a group of owners, so most of my business is referral. I’m not a web designer (I actually stink at it), besides most of my clients already have websites and have spent a lot of money on their sites but now want results or leads from them, so that’s where my services come in. When I’m not working on clients sites, I continue to develop my own properties and more recently have begun buying online companies to add to my portfolio… If you’re any good at it, you should be doing it for yourself.

Anyways, as a result of working on a lot of different businesses from multi-million dollar companies to small mom and pop businesses, along with personal study and research in the consulting field, not mention studying with some of the bigger names in the consulting industry, I’ve gained great insights in marketing and business strategies… I’ve had the chance to “look under the hood” of a lot of businesses and I was always amazed at how most businesses marketing plans where nothing more than throwing darts at the wall to see what sticks… On the other hand, there were a few that really knew what they were doing, especially as I began to work with the larger and more successful businesses… So needless to say, I have been wanting to branch out and share this insight and experience with others, I just wanted a platform to do it on, hence The Solopreneur Life.

SPL interested me not only for the above reasons, but also because I’ve been a Soloprenuer for a long time and often get asked by others how I do it… People see how and where I live (in a log home I personally built with my wife and kids in the mountains of North Central Idaho, see pic) and that I work from home, supporting a large family, and they want to know how its possible.

I traded a life of 72-hour work weeks, bad pay, poor health, and no time for my family…for a life of less work, more money, excellent health (knock on wood!), and ample time for my family and community.

Solopreneurship has: low overhead, low expenses, no employees, high profitability, and an extremely high level of flexibility in life. The business also puts you in a position to help other people, to “do good” in the world.

Plus, I think entrepreneurship in general is the lifeblood of our economy and a lot of what America is all about, so I think I can add a lot to the space, especially in using these insights to help the Soloprenuer niche.

So my goal is to not only provide a lot of free resources and consulting, but to also offer some done-for-you services to Soloprenuers… Time is always an issue for Soloprenuers or for that matter any Entrepreneur.

What’s TheSolopreneurLife.com History

As part of my goal to buy online businesses, I acquired TheSolopreneurLife.com from Larry Keltto who started it in 2010 and so you may still see some of his references. He added a lot to the site and community and helped get the ball rolling (Thanks Larry).

A great practitioner of the solopreneur life, Bob Andelman (aka Mr. Media), summed up his motivations nicely: “If the world’s self-employed entrepreneurs came together to share their victories and woes, their challenges and innovations, the result would eventually uplift them all.”

TheSolopreneurLife.com is widely acknowledged as a thought leader in the small-business space. It’s been quoted, linked, and referenced by media worldwide, including the New York Times. Alltop, the curator of the best in blogging, lists TheSolopreneurLife.com in its Business Intelligence category.

What’s Your Philosophy?

If you’re looking for “six figures in six weeks” stuff, you won’t find it here. TheSolopreneurLife.com is NOT part of the “get-rich-quick” genre of business information.

TheSolopreneurLife.com tells the truth about owning a solo business. The solopreneur life is the best lifestyle on the planet, but it’s not easy. As the 20th-century American philosopher, Wayne Woodrow Hayes, once said, “Anything easy ain’t worth a damn.”

Where Else Can I Find The Solopreneur Life Online?

The “capitol” for The Solopreneur Life is right here, TheSolopreneurLife.com. “Outposts” from the website include:

What’s My History?

I’m the father of 6 incredible children and happily married to my wife for over 25yrs. We live in North Central Idaho at the base of the Rocky Mountains and I’m an avid outdoorsmen.

My roots run deep in the Inland Northwest with generations on my mothers side of the family being born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and my father’s side of the family in Montana and Spokane, Washington.

I graduated from Gonzaga Prep High School in Spokane, WA, where I mostly played football and worked in the family business.

I grew up with a heritage of small business and entrepreneurship in my family with both of my Great Grandfathers having owned their own small businesses. My great grandfather on my mothers side was a tailor in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho and my fathers side a realtor in Washington and later a rancher in Montana. My grandfathers also went on to start automotive related businesses in the Inland Northwest with my grandfather (Ed) on my mothers side opening the first Texaco Service Station in Coeur d’ Alene, ID and my grandfather (Homer) on my fathers side starting Rouse’s Body Shop in Spokane, WA.

Later, my father (Steve) took over the family business and expanded it by starting Rouse’s Towing and Hauling, Payless Auto Painting and Spokane Salvage Pool.

Not to be left behind, I started my first small business in Spokane called the Athlete’s Arena. After attempting a career in professional football, I decided to open an athletic training and fitness facility that included everything from boxing and kickboxing to the largest selection of power lifting and Hammer Strength equipment in the Inland Northwest.

I also pursued a passion for coaching and teaching. I graduated from Eastern Washington University, Cheney WA with both a bachelors in physical education and a minor in coaching and then went on to graduate school at EWU. In grad school I completed a masters in pedagogy with specializations in outdoor recreation and physical education, along with certifications in emergency response… I then went on to teach for over a decade at 2 northwest universities and a college where I was a tenured faculty member.

Over the years I taught such classes as entrepreneurship and leadership, physical education and emergency response to whitewater guiding, mountaineering and wilderness survival. I also coached and gave numerous presentations and seminars in these fields and others. During college I professionally guided and was a EMT, Wilderness-EMT and a First Responder Instructor.

Where Is The Solopreneur Life Located?

The world headquarters are in the mountains of North Central Idaho, about 50 miles from anywhere. Idaho has a grand tradition of solopreneurship and entrepreneurship, and has a strong pioneer heritage.

What Do You Do When You’re Not Working?

I’m probably with my wife and kids working on the ranch, exploring the outdoors, playing sports, or watching a movie at home. Renee and I got married in 1990. I’m very proud of my wife. She is a stay-at-home mother (or domestic engineer) managing a family of 8 and ALL that entails. My kids are active in school, sports, youth programs, and work. We are an active LDS family and volunteer a lot at our church.

We recently lost our family dog of 14 years (Jenna)… So we are looking for a new one, but finding a replacement is hard.

I am an avid outdoorsmen and love to be in the outdoors hunting, fishing, rafting, hiking, climbing, atv riding, or whatever… I volunteer coach youth football in the fall and love to read about subjects that interest me.